Severn River Earns C- in First Report Card
Severn Riverkeeper snapshot helps paint clearer picture of river’s poor health

Annapolis, Md. (March 30, 2009) – Water quality throughout the Severn River and its feeder creeks needs improving, according to report card released by the Severn Riverkeeper and the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science. Conditions throughout the river’s 14-mile reach are considered unhealthy and earned a C- grade in the inaugural report card.

“By analyzing data collected by local volunteers and state and federal agencies, the report card provides local residents with their first holistic look at the river’s health,” said Severn Riverkeeper, Fred Kelly. “Unfortunately, the report card tells us things are not good out there on Maryland’s Capital River.”

The report card grade is based upon a set of indicators that individually, provide a glimpse at the river’s heath: dissolved oxygen, water clarity, underwater grasses and the abundance of yellow perch When analyzed as a whole, the indicators provide a clear images of overall Severn River ecosystem health.

Join us at 11 am on March, 30th at the Epping Forest Beach House (354 Severn Rd, Annapolis, MD 21401) for the exciting release of our Capital River's first report card!